La Junta baseball sweeps Ellicott

The La Junta High School baseball team remained undefeated in Tri-Peaks League East Division play as it took both ends of a doubleheader with Ellicott Saturday at the Thunderhawks' field.

In the first game, the Tigers scored once in the top of the first and added four more runs in the second to increase their lead to 5-1. Both teams scored a run in the third, but La Junta put the game away with eight runs in the top of the fourth.

Cody Knoell pitched the first four innings and was the winning pitcher. He allowed one run and three hits and he also struck out 11 and walked none.

Cole Bryant finished the game and allowed no runs and no hits. He struck out all three batters he faced.

La Junta had 13 hits in the opener with Elias Altamirano going 4-4, including a double. Mitch Eggert went 3-4.

The second game was scoreless in the first inning, but the Tigers scored four runs in the top of the second. The Thunderhawks came back and scored five times in their half of the inning to take a 5-4 lead.

Ellicott's lead would not last long as La Junta scored three runs in the third to regain the lead at 7-5. The Tigers scored four more runs in the fourth and put the game out of reach with an eight-run sixth.

Casey Weber started the game and was the winning pitcher. Bryant pitched the final two innings.

The Tigers had 18 hits in the nightcap with Joe Martinez going 3-4 with a bases-loaded triple in the sixth.

La Junta (5-5, 4-0) will host Trinidad on Saturday. The doubleheader will be played at 22nd Street Field and the first game begins at 11 a.m.